Department for Transport

Great Western Railway Line

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much Network Rail, the Department for Transport, First Great Western and Agility trains have each committed to contributing to the £7.5 billion Great Western route modernisation programme.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Contracts between the Department for Transport and Agility Trains and Great Western Rail are commercially confidential.

Railways: Bridges

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations are contributing to the new bridge across the South Western Main Line south of Clapham Junction station giving access to Emanuel School, and how much they are each contributing.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Network Rail is an arm’s-length public sector body and the sources of funding contributions towards the construction of the new bridge are a commercial matter for the company.Network Rail advises that the new bridge across the South West Mainline was privately funded by one organisation. Network Rail has signed a confidentially agreement with this organisation which does not allow the release of commercial information.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the maximum gradients on the proposed HS2 line, and where they are located.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: In general the normal limiting gradient on the proposed HS2 line is 2.5%, which occurs at various locations along the route.However, there are a few instances of steeper gradients where there are physical constraints that do not allow gradients of 2.5% or less to be achieved, namely:- Between Euston Station and Euston Tunnels (3.4%)- In the Euston Tunnels before Old Oak Common (3.5%)- The east end of the Bromford Tunnel (2.9%)- The approach to Birmingham Curzon St (3.03%)

Channel Tunnel: Undocumented Migrants

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect on UK business of the continuing disruption by migrants of rail and road freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Although it has made no specific assessment, the Government is well aware of the disruptive impact of migrants seeking to access the UK across the English Channel, both through the Channel Tunnel and on the shipping routes. The impact at the Channel Tunnel is particularly severe on the rail freight operators, who have seen a significant reduction in their business, and on Eurotunnel itself.

Rapid Transit Systems

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage local authorities to construct busways, and what is their latest estimate of the cost per mile of new busways.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: It is for local authorities to decide how best to deal with the transport issues in their areas. Should they decide that a Busway is the solution they wish to implement they would need to undertake the necessary design and obtain legal orders. Should they require government funding they should submit a bid through the Local Growth Fund process in conjunction with their Local Enterprise Partnership.We do not have an estimate of the cost per mile of new busways. The last two schemes approved by the Government have been Cambridgeshire Guided Bus (42km, both guided and on-road, costing £180m) and Luton Guided Bus (7.2km of on and off road at a total cost of £89.2m).

Road Traffic Offences

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people were killed or injured as a result of driving offences in 2014; what was the victim’s road user mode in each case; and where those statistics are reported.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The number of people who were killed or injured in reported personal-injury road traffic accidents where at least one driver failed to stop is given in the table below.Number of people killed or injured in reported road traffic accidents, Great BritainAs a percentage of all reported casualtiesYearKilledSeriously injuredSlightly injured KilledSeriously injuredSlightly injured2010841,99122,168 5%9%12%2011962,13021,985 5%9%12%20121012,07520,315 6%9%12%2013821,93019,772 5%9%12%2014952,02821,261 5%9%13%These figures only include accidents that occurred on the public highway and were reported to the police.The statistical record of the accident from the police does not include any information about whether the driver who failed to stop was identified or prosecuted, or any other driver was prosecuted for any other offence.The table below gives the number of defendants proceeded against at Magistrates’ Court in England and Wales for the offences of failure to stop and failure to give name and address after accident, and failure to report accident within 24 hours, for 2010 to 2014.Number of defendants proceeded against at Magistrates’ Court in England and Wales 20102011201220132014Failing to stop after accident3,8813,4672,9622,9002,729Failing to report accident within 24 hours1,6041,3911,2471,1831,012Failing to give name and address after accident1,5351,3231,3431,1331,066(figures from Criminal Justice System Statistics Quarterly, December 2014)Table RAS61001 in the attached document, Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: 2014 Annual Report, which has been deposited in the Libraries of the House, gives the number of offenders convicted, fixed penalty notices and written warnings for motoring offences in England and Wales for 2004 to 2013. The table below gives the number of offenders convicted at all courts in England and Wales of causing death or injury whilst driving a motor vehicle, in 2014.Number of offenders convicted for causing death or injury by a motor vehicle driver, England and WalesOffence2014Causing death by dangerous driving123Causing death by careless driving under influence of drink or drugs25Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving163Causing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers1Causing death by aggravated vehicle taking3Causing serious injury by careless driving186Causing bodily harm by furious driving5(figures from Criminal Justice System Statistics Quarterly, December 2014)The two tables giving statistics on convictions in England and Wales only include convictions for the principle offence (i.e. the most serious offence).It is not possible to link any of the criminal justice data from the Ministry of Justice or the Home Office with reported road accident data to say how many of the motoring offences resulted in accidents or how many people were killed or injured as a result of the alleged offences.



Reported Road Casualties_GB_Annual Report 2014
(PDF Document, 5.89 MB)

Road Traffic Offences

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people were killed or injured in crashes where the driver failed to stop at the scene of the crash since 2010, and how many of those crashes resulted in a prosecution.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The number of people who were killed or injured in reported personal-injury road traffic accidents where at least one driver failed to stop is given in the table below.Number of people killed or injured in reported road traffic accidents, Great Britain As a percentage of all reported casualtiesYearKilledSeriously injuredSlightly injured KilledSeriously injuredSlightly injured2010841,99122,168 5%9%12%2011962,13021,985 5%9%12%20121012,07520,315 6%9%12%2013821,93019,772 5%9%12%2014952,02821,261 5%9%13%These figures only include accidents that occurred on the public highway and were reported to the police.The statistical record of the accident from the police does not include any information about whether the driver who failed to stop was identified or prosecuted, or any other driver was prosecuted for any other offence.The table below gives the number of defendants proceeded against at Magistrates’ Court in England and Wales for the offences of failure to stop and failure to give name and address after accident, and failure to report accident within 24 hours, for 2010 to 2014.Number of defendants proceeded against at Magistrates’ Court in England and Wales 20102011201220132014Failing to stop after accident3,8813,4672,9622,9002,729Failing to report accident within 24 hours1,6041,3911,2471,1831,012Failing to give name and address after accident1,5351,3231,3431,1331,066(figures from Criminal Justice System Statistics Quarterly, December 2014)Table RAS61001 in the attached document, Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: 2014 Annual Report, which has been deposited in the Libraries of the House, gives the number of offenders convicted, fixed penalty notices and written warnings for motoring offences in England and Wales for 2004 to 2013. The table below gives the number of offenders convicted at all courts in England and Wales of causing death or injury whilst driving a motor vehicle, in 2014.Number of offenders convicted for causing death or injury by a motor vehicle driver, England and WalesOffence2014Causing death by dangerous driving123Causing death by careless driving under influence of drink or drugs25Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving163Causing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers1Causing death by aggravated vehicle taking3Causing serious injury by careless driving186Causing bodily harm by furious driving5(figures from Criminal Justice System Statistics Quarterly, December 2014)The two tables giving statistics on convictions in England and Wales only include convictions for the principle offence (i.e. the most serious offence).It is not possible to link any of the criminal justice data from the Ministry of Justice or the Home Office with reported road accident data to say how many of the motoring offences resulted in accidents or how many people were killed or injured as a result of the alleged offences.



Reported Road Causalties GB_2014_Annual Report
(PDF Document, 5.89 MB)

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: EU Nationals

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many citizens of other European Union member states are currently serving prison sentences within the United Kingdom, and of which member states they are citizens.

Lord Faulks: The table below provides a breakdown of the number of nationals of other EU member states who were serving prison sentences in prisons in England and Wales on 30 June 2015, the date of the latest available data:Number of sentenced EU Nationals held in prisons in England and Wales as at 30 June 2015Austria4Belgium18Bulgaria32Croatia5Cyprus12Czech Republic68Denmark8Estonia14Finland0France48Germany47Greece19Hungary36Ireland650Italy66Latvia93Lithuania315Luxembourg0Malta4Netherlands90Poland608Portugal146Romania359Slovakia57Slovenia3Spain45Sweden21 Total2,768 The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide data on the number of foreign nationals held in prisons in Scotland or Northern Ireland, as these are the responsibility of the relevant devolved administrations.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Stephan Templ

Baroness Deech: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed with the government of Austria the case of Stephan Templ, chronicler of Nazi looting in Vienna, who has been sentenced to imprisonment in connection with his claim for restitution.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are aware of the legal case concerning Stephan Templ. Our Embassy has close relations with the Secretary General of the Austrian National Fund for Victims of National Socialism, which was established in 1995 to fulfil Austria’s responsibility towards the victims of National Socialism. The British Government encourages the authorities in Austria and other countries in the region to address restitution and compensation claims from those who were tragically affected by the Holocaust as soon as possible, in a way that would be just and satisfactory to the claimants. We will continue to engage with the authorities to press the case for victims of National Socialism to receive justice and fair compensation, particularly through the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The Government has appointed Sir Eric Pickles as its envoy for post holocaust issues, and he will continue to raise such issues at every opportunity.

Georgia: NATO Enlargement

Baroness Falkner of Margravine: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of Georgia’s suitability to become a member of NATO.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK supports the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)’s Open Door policy and welcomes the membership aspirations of all countries currently seeking to join the Alliance. Allies declared at the NATO Summit in Bucharest in 2008 that Georgia will one day become a member of NATO. Georgia is a highly valued partner of NATO. Georgia co-operates with NATO through a number of mechanisms which provide Allies with on-going assessments of Georgia’s progress. In 2008, the NATO-Georgia Commission was established to serve as a forum for political consultations and practical co-operation to help Georgia achieve its goal of membership of NATO. At the NATO Summit in Wales, the Alliance also agreed a ‘Substantial Package’ of support for Georgia to strengthen defence capabilities, and interoperability with the Alliance, and provide a new “enhanced partnership” status. Separately Allies agreed to establish Defence Capacity Building Missions in Georgia and Moldova. The UK has contributed £1,750,000 to a new Trust Fund to help facilitate these. Allies will next assess Georgia’s progress in advance of the next NATO Foreign Ministers meeting on 2 December.

Georgia: Russia

Baroness Falkner of Margravine: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of recent reports of creeping annexation of Georgian territory by Russia.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK continues to be concerned by ongoing reports of Russian supported borderisation (building fences and putting up “border” signs) along the Administrative Boundary Line with the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. A recent example occurred in July 2015 when so-called border signs were moved closer to the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line. Regular reporting by the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia provides valuable updates on the constant, low-level borderisation process by Russian and South Ossetian personnel.The UK has a clear policy of non recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s claims to independence, and recognises Georgia’s territorial integrity and its sovereignty over these two regions. We reject any actions which will increase tensions and the isolation in communities living along the Administrative Boundary Lines and call on Russia to fulfil all of its 2008 ceasefire commitments, including removing its troops from South Ossetia to pre-conflict positions.

Catalonia: Sovereignty

Baroness Falkner of Margravine: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place at a senior level with the government of Spain regarding a referendum on Catalonian independence, following the regional elections on 27 September.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: There have been no official discussions with the Government of Spain regarding a referendum on Catalonian independence since Catalonia’s regional election on 27 September.

Mediterranean Region: International Assistance

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are consulting the Foreign Minister of Italy on his proposal for enhanced aid and investment in the whole Mediterranean region.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), most recently discussed the Mediterranean region with the Italian Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 14 September. Ministers frequently meet their Italian counterparts to discuss the broad range of issues affecting the Mediterranean, including our close cooperation on migration.

Department of Health

Hospitals: Inspections

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Care Quality Commission reports of acute hospital inspections in 2014 and 2015 recommended increased staffing levels.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England and has a key responsibility in the overall assurance of safety and quality of health and adult social care services. The CQC has provided the following information.CQC inspections of acute trusts include an assessment of how trusts are meeting the legal registration requirement on staffing.This requires providers to have sufficient numbers of suitably skilled and experienced persons to deliver safe care. The CQC can take enforcement action where providers do not meet the registration requirements.For acute National Health Service trusts and acute NHS foundation trusts, the CQC found 38 breaches of the staffing registration requirement in 2014 and four between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2015. These figures include CQC re-inspections and include locations for specialist acute trusts.The CQC does not provide a rating of staffing levels and does not make recommendations on the appropriate number of staff a trust should employ.The CQC has issued 106 ratings of acute NHS trusts and acute NHS foundation trust hospital sites in 2014, and 97 in 2015 up to 30 September 2015. These figures include locations with more than one published rating in the period and include locations for specialist acute trusts.

Death Certificates

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 3 February (HL4351), what advice was provided to the incoming government about reforms of the death certification system, and whether they will publish that advice in full.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Consideration of reforms to death certification is on-going in the context of the Spending Review. The Government has no plans to publish the advice given by officials to Ministers.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what policy is in place to enable Jobcentre Plus officers to identify benefit fraud.

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how Jobcentre Plus officers report suspected benefit fraud.

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is a statutory obligation for Jobcentre Plus officers to report suspected benefit fraud.

Lord Freud: As Civil Servants, all Jobcentre Plus staff must adhere to the Civil Service Code which states they must ‘comply with the law and uphold the administration of justice’.Jobcentre staff have access to the DWP Fraud Referral Portal. This is a source of information and guidance for staff when fraud is suspected or has been notified by a member of the public.A Fraud Referral Form is completed when a member of DWP discovers abuse of the benefit system whilst undertaking their official duties or if an allegation is received from, or about, an employer or organisation.Where post is received into a Jobcentre referring to an allegation of potential fraud, this is passed on to the DWP’s Operational Intelligence Unit to investigate.

Social Security Benefits

The Lord Bishop of Truro: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to publish data on the number of claims and awards of Short Term Benefit Advances and Universal Credit Short Term Advances.

Lord Freud: The information you have requested is not currently available. The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on Universal Credit (UC) in September 2013. As outlined in the strategy, officials are currently quality assuring data for UC therefore it is not yet possible to give a definitive list of what statistics will be provided in the future. These statistics however will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for official statistics.